“This has given us cause to review our procedures so we can get tips to our associates quicker in these unusual situation.,” said the Waffle House post. “It says a lot about this customer that he was willing to tip our associate this generous amount. Our intentions were for the associate to get her tip all along. We are sorry that our associate and the customer are having to go through this.”

A Waffle House spokesman said the policy is intended to protect the restaurant in case generous tippers change their minds and having credit card companies retrieve the money.